Category: Events

Enjoying a glass of wine after a workday wouldn’t be considered too out of the ordinary. But savoring some vino after flying high on the trapeze? Now that’s something special.

This exhilarating experience was made possible by the Australian winery FishEye, which hosted a tasting and trapeze event at TSNY (Trapeze School New York) Los Angeles, located right on the Santa Monica Pier.

While some Cognac houses have hired rappers to promote their brand, Hennessy decided to up their street cred with a street artist. The 247-year-old house commissioned American street artist Futura to design their new VS Limited Edition bottle. Futura (born Leonard McGurr) is the leader of the “Abstract Graffiti” movement, known for its focus on lines rather than letters. His colorful design will adorn 200,000 bottles, which retail for $32 each.

When I was invited to a Wine & Magic show the prestidigitation started before the event did. Somehow, the wine element disappeared, and — presto chango — The Federal Bar in North Hollywood ended up hosting a Beer & Magic show instead.

Showcasing the talents of magician Anthony Asimov, the event began with a magic show lasting perhaps thirty minutes in a small room of the bar’s spacious upper floor. I sat in the front row, just a few feet from Asimov and participated in some of his card tricks. Yet, even from my vantage point I could not discover how he did what he did; it was an impressive show.

The anniversary of the storming of the Bastille fortress-prison which led to “La Révolution Française” on July 14, 1789 has become the French National Day. This year in Los Angeles, the French people also celebrated the inscription in November 2010 of “The Gastronomic Meal of the French” on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Heaven Hill Distilleries is currently launching the world’s first agave nectar liqueur in major cities across the U.S. Named for the Monarch butterfly, which is indigenous to the Tequila region of Mexico, Mariposa Agave Nectar Liqueur makes for a versatile new cocktail ingredient. Whereas tequila is made by fermenting agave nectar, thereby reducing the syrup’s sweetness by transforming its sugars into alcohol, Mariposa retains the sweetness by blending the nectar with a neutral spirit comprised of agave tequila and vodka. The addition of rose oil and gardenia adds complexity of aroma and flavor.